Flushing mechanism for water-closets



(No Mndel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. A. BLESSING. FLUSHING MECHANISM FOR WATER GLOSETS.'

N0. 420,327. Patented Jan. 28, 1890'.

I I 97M (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. A. BLESSING.

FLUSHING MECHANISM FOR WATER onosms. No. 420,327.

Patented Jan. 28, 1890..v

" z'lafdfiagw' 'h n. PETERS. Mommnblm. Wishingtnn, mu

UNITED STATES.

PATENT FFrcE.

CHARLES A. BLESSING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLU SH I'NG M ECHANISM FOR WATER-CLOSETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,327, dated January28, 1890.

Application filed se tember 3, 1889. Serial no. 322,864. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. Bnnssme, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in FlushingMechanism for ater-Closets, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to apparatus for flushing water-closets inwhich automatic time-valves or valves of other forms are employed.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide simple means whereby theaction of the valve may be adjusted to the particular necessitiesof eachcase by regulating the discharge from the valve-chamber, whereby it iscaused to close after the desired quantities of water are discharged.

It is my purpose, also, to simplify and improve the construction of theautomatic timevalves used in flushing-tanks, to provide an improved andsimplified form of bracket for the supportof the operating lever orlevers, and to combine with the pulling-lever an adjustable weightbalancing the weight of the closet-seat, by which the valves may beoperated only when the pull or seat is released. It is my purpose, also,to provide means for producing an afterwash only, or both a beforewashand an afterwash when the seat or pull is used.

It is my further purpose to provide simple an d inexpensive meanswhereby the discharge of water may bQ'EttltOIIlZttlCtllY controlled inaccordance with the circumstances of each case, for preventing waste inplaces where the water-supply is not plentiful, for giving full longwashes where water is abundant, for affording a small before orpreliminary wash and a long afterwash, or for giving an afterwash onlywithout any b'eforewash, as the user may prefer.

It is my purpose, also, to provide simple means whereby a continuous butsmall afterwash for filling the'bowl and trap may be obtained withoutdepending upon the action of the valve, such afterwash being supplieddirectly from the inlet or ball cock.

I also purpose inlet or supply a valve or ball cock controlled by afloat which, instead of being spherical,

supporting the time-valve attachment.

combining with the water' as has heretofore been the custom, shall beflattened upon opposite sides to the form of an oblate spheroid, toenable it to discharge the maximum volume of water by quickly openingthe water-cock with a slight fall of water-cock.

To these ends my invention consists in the several novel features ofconstruction and new combinationsof parts hereinafter fully set forth,and then definitely pointed out in the claims following thisspecification.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my saidinvention, Iwill now describe the same in detail, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of aflushingtank,illustrating.the invention in part. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview of the universal automatic time-valve, overflow and air-valve, and

its cage. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the spider Fig. 4.- is a sectionalview of the ball-cock and supply-pipe. Fig. 5 is aview showing onedoubleacting construction for obtaining a small preliminary or beforewash and a full afterwash by the pull and release of the flushing-leversby means of a seat action, giving a beforewash sufficient to wet thewater-closet. and so fill bowl, and a long afterwash for thoroughlyflushing the closet. Fig. 6 is a view showing a modified constructionfor a similar purpose working from the top of valve-lever. Fig. 7 is aview showing a construction whereby a full afterwash is given uponreleasing the seat or lever without any beforewash. Fig. 8 is aperspective view showing the construction of the bracket, itsattachment, and one form of flushing lever and weight.

In the drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes the flush in g-tank,having any desired form and construction. The tank is provided with avalve-seat 2, having the usualcommunication with the flushing-pipe 3,leading to the bowl of the closet. Seating upon the valve-seat 2 is anautomatic timeva1ve4,having a tubular stem 4:, provided with open ends,within which is formed a spider 5, having a threaded central aperture,in which is inserted the threaded nipple of a yoke 6. This yoke isunited to a central depending piece or stem 7 having a concavo-c'onvexdisk 8 on its lower end, from which rises a circular flange-on open- ICOtop shell 9, fitting closely, but sliding freely, Within a cylindricalcup-shaped chamber .or shell 10, closed at its lower end by a valve,hereinafter described, and open at its upper end, which rises into thelower open end of the tubular valve stem 4. On the lower closed end ofthe cylindrical cup 10 is atubular stem 12, opening into the cup orchamber below the shell 9. This tubular stem is closed by a puppet-valve13, having a stem 14 lying in the tubular stem 12, and provided withpins 15, projecting laterally from the valve-stem and lying in slots 16in the tubular stem 12 to limit the upward movement of the valve. Uponthe lower closed extremity of the tubular stem is mounted a cylindricalsuction-cup 17, rising above and surrounding the lower portion of thecylindrical cup 10 at a little distance therefrom. Below this cup 17 thesolid end of the stem 12 receives a jam-nut 12, holding the cup 17,below which the stem is extended sufficiently to form a neck 18, belowwhich is a collar or flange 19.

When in operative position, the parts are arranged as shown in Figs. 1and 2, the neck 18 of the depending stem being inserted in a centralaperture in a spider or cross 20, placed below the valve-seat 2. Thisspider consists of four or more cross-arms meeting at the cen- .ter,where a circular aperture 21 is formed, having an opening 22 on one sideto admit the neck of the stem and allow it to be readily removed.

The central depending piece "or stem 7 is provided with a longitudinalopening 23, opening below into the cup or shell 10 and having in itsupper end a minute aperture 24, immediately above which is avertically-adjustable screw 25, tapped through the threaded nipplesupporting the yoke 6, and having its point lying directly over thesmall aperture 24, by which the escape of air and fluid through the saidaperture is regulated with great accuracy.

The operation of these parts is as follows: When the valve is pulled,the rise of the tubular valve 4 lifts the open-top shell 9, which moveswith the valve-stem L and slides up in the cylindrical cup 10. Thisproducesa suction in the lower part of the cup 10, lifting the valve 13and drawing up water from the lower cup 17, which passes through theslots 16 and through the tubular stem 12 into the cup 10. As the upwardmovement ceases the valve 13 closes and the water contained in the cup10 prevents the descent of the shell 9, save as the water escapesthrough the piece or stem 7. As this escape is very slow the tubularvalve-stem 1, which is sustained by the shell 9, sinks down gradually,giving ample time for the flow of the water through the flushing-pipe.By the raising or lowering the screws 25 the operation'of the valve maybe regulated with accuracy, and adjusted to discharge the desiredquantity of water required in every case.

The flushing-tank is supplied by an inlet 26, which consists of a nozzlehaving a crosshead or plate 27, through which screws are passed into theedge of the wall of the tank. Upon the end of the nozzle is avalve-chamber 28, containing a valve 29, actuated by a lever30,fulcrumed upon lugs 31, and having upon its end a float 32. The valve29 descends upon a Mai 33, which lies upon a circular shoulder firmedupon a hollow nipple 34, which is screwed into the lower end of thevalve-chamber, holding the valveseat between it and an interior flange35. The ball-float 32, I construct in the form of an oblate spheroid andattach it to the lever in such manner that one of the flatten ed sidesrests upop-rthe water in the tank, whereby its immersion effects agreater displacement than would be possiblewith a spherical float, orone having the form of a prolate spheroid, at equal depths of immersion.

In closets Where it is desirable or necessary that the bowl be filledafter the flushing-valve closes, or where for other reasons a smalllong-continued run of water is wanted after the valve has cut off theescape through the flushing-pipe, I connect a tube 36 of suitablediameter with the tubular nipple 34, in such manner that its open endlies in the discharge-opening of said nipple, as seen in Fig. 4, theother end being inserted in an opening 37 in the valve-seat 2. By thisarrangement a continuous small stream runs through the flushing-pipeinto the bowl during the whole time the tank is filling.

Upon the upper open end of the tubular overflow and valve-stem 4 ismounted a hollow float-valve38, confined in place by a cage formed by ayoke 39,cast on the stem, and one or more wire yokes 40, passing throughthe central part of the yoke 39, and having the ends thereof attached tothe tubular stem. The float-valve 38 may be a section of a cylinder, asshown, or it may be a ball, and in either case it may be formed ofmetal, rubber, or other material, its specific gravity being such thatit will rise and unclose the open end of the tubular stem should thewaterlevel in the tank rise above the op n end of the stem, therebyutilizing the latter as an overflow or waste pipe. The valve-stem 4 ismade of a single casting or in .two or more parts united, and isvalve-seating ring 2.

The float 38 constitutes an air-valve and subserves two distinctpurposes, One object is to stop the noise produced by air upon enteringan open overflow-pipe after the valve in the bottom of the tank isclosed. This noise is effectively prevented by the floatvalve closingthe top of the tubular overflow and valve-stem. The second purpose is,to prevent the Water from rushing too quickly down the flush-pipe, andto retain enough water therein to fill the basin and trap of the closetafter it has been thoroughly flushed.

The tubular stem 4 is raised by a lever 41, connected at its end to theyoke 39 by means of a link 42. At the other end this lever is pivotallymounted on a bracket, which is shown in detail in Fig. 8. It is composedof a standard 43, having an aperture 44 in its upper end to receive thepivot-pin of the flu shing-lever, and upon its lower portion at one sideis formed a lateral extension 45, forming a broad baseto rest upon theedge of the tank. Upon opposite ends of this extension are formed jaws46, lying on the outside and inside of the tank, a set-screw 47 beingtapped through the outer jaw to bear against a pillow-block 48, insertedbetween the jaw and the wall of the tank. The edge of the stand-' 'ardextends inward and is curved slightly upward to form a lug, and asimilar and parallel lug 49 extends from the end of the inner jaw, eachlug having an open seat 50. In

these seats are laid trunnion-pins 51, which project from the flatopposite sides of a weightlever 52, which lies between the lugs 49, itsouter end being preferably bent or turned upward at an angle with theinner end. This upwardly-bent portion lies beside the standard 43 andagainst a lug 53 thereon. Holes 54 are formed in the lever for theattachment of the chain, wire, or other connection, which is attached tothe seat or brought within reach of the person using the closet. Uponthe inner end of the lever is mounted a crescent-shaped weight 55,between the ends of which lies the upper part of the tubular valve-stem4. Projecting from the lever 52 is a rigid arm 56, the end of which liesjust beneath the edge of the lever 41, which is curved upon a linestruck from the pivotal axis of the lever 52, as shown in Fig. 1. Abovethis curved portion or edge is a lug or projection 57, upon which ispivoteda dog 58, lying against the fiat face of the lever 41. This dogis provided with a toe 59, which abuts against a stop 60 on the leverand arrests the pivotal movement of the dog in that direction,-and onthe lower edge of the dog is formed an angular cam 61, projecting belowthe curved edge of the lever 41. Between this cam and the toe 59 is anotch or recess 62, in whichthe end of the arm 56 normally lies, whichoperates the lever 41, and also holds it in its position when notoperated.

The parts being constructed and arranged in the manner described, andthe outer end of the lever 52 being connected to the seat of the closetin the usual manner, the weight of the person using the closet depressesthe seat and raises the weighted end of the lever 52, vibrating the arm56, by which the dog 58 is swung toward the standard 43 until its camportion 61 passes above the curved edge ofthe lever 41, whereupon thedog swings back to normal position with its toe against the stop 60, thearm 56 remainingupon the other side of the cam 61. v This action of thelever 52 produces no movement of the lever 41, but when the weight isremoved from the seat of the closet the gravity of the weight 55 drawsthe end of the arm 56 against the inclined edge of the cam 61, and asthe dog 58 is unable to turn by reason of the stop 60 the lever 41 israised by the arm and the timevalve is lifted ofi the valve-seat 2. Along full wash is thus obtainedwithout any beforewash. This constructioneffectually prevents waste where water is not plentiful, as it gives butone full wash upon releasing the seat or the pull. It is oftendesirable, however, to have a small preliminary fiush orbeforewash towet the closet and prevent the adhesion of soil, followed, upon therelease of the seat, by a full flush or afterwash, and this arrangementis'frequently advantageous in connection with automatic time-valves, andwhen the flushing apparatus is operated by seat-action instead of by apull. For this purpose, therefore, I may employ the construction ofparts shown in Fig. 5, which differs from that already described only inone featureviz., in the depth of the notch or recess 62. By cutting thisnotch in such manner that it lies substantially flush with the curvededge of the lever41,beneath which the end of the.

arm 56 vibrates, the dog 58, inswinging away from the stop 60, willproject the notched portion below the curved edge of the lever andagainst the end of the arm 56, thereby raising the lever 41 slightly orabout onethird its full stroke, thus affecting the beforewash by aslight rise of the valve and stem 4. Upon the release of the seat thearm will operate on the cam 61 on the dog in themanner alreadydescribed, the two movements giving a small beforewash and a fullafterwash. 1 may also use for the same purpose the arrangement of partsshown in Fig. 6. In this construction an arm 63 is formed on theweighted lever, said arm extending above the flushing-lever 41 and lyingclose beside the same, a cam-lug 64 being formed .on the arm to extendover the upper edge of the lever 41. Upon the latter and between it andthe arm 63 is pivoted a dog 65, having a toe 66, resting on a stop-lug67 on the flushing-lever, and provided with an angular cam 68, whichextends above the upper edge of the said lever. Near the angle of thiscam is a stop-pin 69, projecting from the side or face of the dog whichlies next the lever, and at such a distance from the angle that inorderto ride over thecam the lug 64 must depress the end of the lever 41sufliciently'to slightly raise the end connected to the valve. Whenweight is placed upon the seat, or when the pull is operated, theweighted lever is tilted, the arm 63 moves, carrying the camlug 64 overthe cam 68, and turning the dog 65 until the stop-pin 69 rests ont-heedge of the lever 41. The further movement of the arm then depressesthe lever, thereby slightly lifting the end connected to the valve andgiving a small beforewash. The release of the pull or seat gives afullafterwash by the cam-lug 64 riding over the cam 68 at its full height,the dog 65 being pivoted to fall by its own gravity after the cam-lug 64has passed,

' sbezproduced bya'hand-pull.

.uItpreferred,'instead-oficonnecting the lever to the seat by. a chain"orxwire, the con- 'an'ection may be% madeiwith a door, which may andbringing the toe 66 uponthestop-lug 67. .=By v removing .the-stop-pin 69therconstruction shown in Fig. 6 is made to givea full afterwash withoutany beforewash. In this case I prefer to curve the edge of the lever 41,as shown in Fig. .7, in a line struck from the pivotal axis of the arm63, Fig.6, whereby the cam-lug 64 may ride on the edge and hold thelever motionless. In all other respects the construction shown inFig.--7issimi-.

llar to that shown in Fig. 6, with the stop-pin j 6.9 removed. I-nboththe figures named, the

' 1 action being overhead of instead-of beneath.

thelever 41, the pivot-alaxisof the latter must be placed between thearm 63 and the .endto which thexvalve is.connected,'said It'=is:evident. that :the? parts shown in Figs.

said weight to .lraise the water-closet r seat when'a seat action isused, andto also. oper:

( ate the leverfora singleor double action, as. thecase may be... Thesame resultxm'ayalso ibecaused-to do *the work byxmeans of links o'rpulley-rollers. ;This arrangement can be used to good advantagepinschool houses, railway-stations,v and other *public places I :-:'where anumber of people have access-to lthe All' the parts of this. apparatusmay be removed,- separated, and again; assembledw ith out thesnecessityof exercising any special mechanical? skill.

closets, the doors all, of course, self-closinfg.

. Theball-cock shown can be used 'fordrfaw ing liquids of any kind inaddition to its use in: azflushing-tank. l

. l In an application filed by me ofeven date herewith Ihave shown a'further 'construction-of flushing-:leverfor giving a full pre.

:liminary' Wash and a .fullafterwash, said lever being usedill-connection with a bracket .similar to that-shown in thisapplication. i 5 r The cage confining thefioat-valve 38 may be formed.entirely'of arms castintegral with the tubular stem of thetime-valve.This rcage, in conjunction with the valve, forms a.

' :strainer, preventing the stem from becoming 'f .:choked.with.for.eign matter, should any. be i present in the water.

What= I claim is I 1. In a flushing-tank for water-closets,;the

ficombinatiomwith a valve and with a flushinglever or levers connectedto said valve, of an operating-lever having an, adjustable weight, and adog pivotally mounted on 'the flushing-lever and provided with anangular .cam projecting beyond the edge. ofz said flushsupport andconnected to .saidvalve, 1 of a ...-weighted leverhaving an arm, and adog pivotally mounted on theflushing-lever and provided with. an angularcam projecting beyond theedge of said flushing-lever, said dog beingfree:to. swing in one direction .under the impulse of the-arm on theweighted lever, and being prevented from swinging in the oppositedirection by astop-lug onthefiushing-lever, the weighted lever beingoperated by the person using the closet,- substantially asdescribed.

.3. Ina; flushing-tank .fonwater-closieits, the combination, with avalve. and-witha fflushin g-lcver pivoted. on a suitable supportconnected .to'said valve, of an operatinglever having its one end:connected -.to i anoperat ing-chain and provided with;:an armrising:from said lever, anda dog pivotally mounted on the fiat vertical face.of .the flushing-lever, and provided with. an angular cam projectingvbeyond the edge of said lever and acted .upon: by the arm,saidleverbeing provided .with a lug arresting the swing of .the dog inone direction andpermitti-ng it in the other "direction, substantiallyas described.

4. In aflushing-tank for watervclosets, the

combination, with a. valve and witha flushing-lever mountedon asuitablesupport and connected 'to said valve, of a, weighted lever connected toan operating-chain, and having an arm rising. beneath theflushing-lever, a dog pivotally mounted on the. latter and providedwitha toe abutting against. a stop-lug on the flushing-lever, said doghaving also a cam projecting beyond the lower edge of theflushing-lever, and a notch or recess between said cam and the toeinwhich the end-of the arm normally lies, substantially as described.

5. In a fiushingstank for Water-closets, the combination, with avalve-seat .having a spider in its lower part, of atubular valve-stemcarryinga valve engaging the valve:seat, said stem having interiorcross-arms 5, a, central depending stem 7., connected to: said.crossarms and carrying on its lower end a cupvalve 9, a cylindrical cup10, within. which the cup-valve 9 slides, having a tubular stem 12 atits lower closed end, a suction-cup 17, mounted by a jam-nut 12?.on-thelower end of thetubular stem, and a puppetvalve closing the open end ofthe tubular stem-l2 and cup 10, the cup 10,rising into the lower end ofthe tubular stem 4", and the stem 12 having slots 16,which receive pins15 on thestem of the puppetvalve, substantially as described.

6. In a flushing-tank for water-closets, the combination, with avalve-seat havingv a spider in its lower part, of atubularvalve-stem 4,carrying a valve engaging the valve-seat, said stern having interiorcross-arms 5, a central depending stein connected to said crossarms, andcarrying upon its lower end a'cupvalve, a cylindrical cup Within whichthe cupvalve 9 slides, having a tubular stem at its lower closed endconnected to the spider in the valve-seat, a puppet-valve closing theopen end of the tubular stem and cylindrical cup, and a suction-cup 17,mounted on the latter and partly surrounding the cylindrical cup, withwhich it communicates through the tubular stem, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a flushing-tank for water-closets, the combination of the risingand falling valvestem carrying the outlet-valve, a flushing-leverconnected to the valve-ste1n and having a cam-dog pivoted to swing uponthe hat vertical face of said lever, a main operating-lever locatedunder the flushing-lever and having an arm the pointof which lies in anotch in the cam-dog to swing it in one direction

